An idea hatched among friends sparked Travis Smith (BSBA '99) to consider a new way to build wealth while helping anyone build a portfolio. The idea? Tribevest, a Columbus-based group-investment platform that launched in 2018 to help groups of investors create their own limited liability company (LLC), open a bank account, interact, vote and invest all within 48 hours.  

Receiving the 2021 Pace Setters Executive Award gave Elicia Azali (BSBA ’05) an opportunity to reflect on the way Ohio State and Fisher impacted the story of her personal and professional growth.

Learn how Lisa Ingram (MBA '00) balances brand needs with shifting consumer preferences, and the #1 tip she gives to restaurant owners looking to scale their business

How does an accountant-turned-business owner and chef become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner? Read about the journey Kirsten Cheng (MBLE ’06, MAcc ’07) took to find her ultimate happiness.

Grit and a keen sense of self-awareness helped Honors Cohort alumni Patrick Beebe (BSBA ’09) and Ian Schmitt (BSBA ’12) find the right professional fit.

As Melinda Whittington (BSBA ’89) transitions from CFO at La-Z-Boy Inc. to become the company’s next CEO, learn how her experience as a top finance officer shaped her outlook on issues including social responsibility, the COVID-19 pandemic and ethics.

Part of Ohio State for 60 years, Barbie Tootle has watched as our society and Ohio State underwent a cultural revolution. As a freshman in what was then the College of Commerce, she had no female professors and few women in her class. Today, with the second woman leading Ohio State as its president, Barbie recognizes how far the institution has progressed.

Thaddeus Spratlen (BSBA ’56, MA ’57, PhD ’62) built his career teaching business students and engaging the business community to help create, enhance and sustain the marketplace for underrepresented communities. Read more about the lasting impact this trailblazing alumnus continues to make.

Amber Hammond (BSBA ’15) knows an entrepreneur’s motivation can strike from the most unexpected places — an idea developed over a cup of coffee with a friend and scribbled on a paper napkin; a well-planned digital presentation for a class; or as Hammond knows, it can come from a seed planted following a global experience that uncovers a whole new world through the eyes of a different culture.

Two Fisher alumni share their story of connecting through a college program, and across an ocean, as mentor and mentee.

As part of the “There’s a Better Way” podcast, Laurie Spadaro, director of the Master of Business Operational Excellence, program sat down with Terry Kayobotsi (MBOE '17, EMBA '19), technology analyst with Nationwide Insurance. Hear why Terry chose to pursue not only his MBOE but also an EMBA, and how his Fisher experience has had an impact in his professional career.

Embracing change took Fisher alumna Dawn Lyons (BSBA ’01) from a career marketing consumer product goods to leading an Emmy award-winning team with passion and purpose.

Burdened with the challenges many athletes face upon retirement, Mike Doss (MBOE '19) has successfully transitioned to the real estate space under Bob Weiler.

Go behind the scenes inside Ohio Stadium as Joe DiPietro (BSBA ’04) talks about how empty seats this fall provided a new and creative opportunity to connect Ohio State fans. His venture not only gave football fans a safe way to show their support, but it also provided a meaningful way to connect generations of Buckeye family and friends. 

There is no one-size-fits-all career path for those with business degrees. Meet Satya Chauhan (MBA ’78), an alumnus who has put his graduate business degree to work leading research and development projects at Battelle for more than four decades.

See how the combination of different on-campus experiences, global opportunities and Ohio State’s alumni network helped shape Brian Folmer’s (BSBA ’11) development as a Fisher student and fostered his curiosity and passion for entrepreneurship. 

Zac Graber (BSBA ’18) discovered his passion for entrepreneurship at Ohio State, a journey that ultimately culminated in his selection as a recipient of the President’s Prize, the university's highest recognition bestowed on exceptional students committed to social change.

Meet Jay Clouse, a serial entrepreneur and self-described connector who feeds on the energy created by small groups of people who are passionate about what they do.

Football fans view him as a gladiator, but Sam Hubbard continues to define himself in ways beyond his sport.

Dwight Smith (BSBA '78, MBA '79) runs Sophisticated Systems like a parent runs a household. In the midst of a pandemic, he puts his employees’ health, safety and peace of mind first. Learn more about Smith's passions and how they extend well beyond business.

Jay Klauminzer (BSBA ’01), CEO of e-commerce platform Raise, epitomizes the growth mindset in action. He believes that new experiences are crucial to widening a perspective and that every challenge presents an opportunity to lead better. That framework has propelled him through his dynamic career in consulting and e-commerce.

The synergy between Nicole Balkenbusch (BSBA ’07) and Selin Yenibahar (BSBA ’20) highlights the value of investing in relationships. Despite the fact that information is more accessible than ever before, the journey to self-discovery still relies on mentors and mentees guiding one another toward the right experiences.

In 2010, Brandon Smith and Howard Patton took advantage of a global program offered at Fisher to experience how life and business were conducted internationally.